Battery

ABSTRACT

An exemplary battery is provided in the present invention. The battery includes a current collector, a positive-electrode structure, a separation structure, a negative-electrode structure and a housing. The positive-electrode structure, the separation structure, the negative-electrode structure are encircled in sequence inside of the housing. At least one of the negative-electrode structure and the positive-electrode structure comprises chlorophyll. The battery of the present invention could store hydrogen by the chlorophyll of the positive-electrode structure and/or the negative-electrode structure to generate electricity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Chinese Patent Application No.201010585281.3, filed on Dec. 13, 2010, entitled “Battery” by ChungpinLiao, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a battery, and more particularly to abattery using chlorophyll to generate electricity and a manufacturingmethod thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones,portable cameras, notebook computers, digital cameras, personal digitalassistants (PDAs), CD players, are becoming popular owing to theirlightweight and small size. Batteries used as a portable power sourcehave also become the focus of the public concern, and have been anessential element of various portable electronic devices.

Although common batteries, such as carbon-zinc batteries, alkalinebatteries and secondary batteries, are allegedly environment-benign,they in fact largely contain substantial amounts of mercury and otherheavy metals, such as cobalt. Other than that, environmental pollutantsare frequently used or released during battery manufacturing process.

Lithium batteries, though widely adopted as the largest energy contentamong the portable batteries, are unstable in electrochemical reactions.In worst scenarios, explosions can occur due to its thermal runaway asthe result of operating at low load or under improper assemblage.Therefore, multiple and complex protection mechanisms should beimplemented for their usage, such as the installation of a protectioncircuit, an exhaust vent, and isolation membranes, etc.

The price of the lithium batteries rises rapidly as a result of thedepletion of lithium mineral, which is the main raw material of thepositive electrode (such as Li_(1-x)CoO₂) and the negative electrode(such as Li_(x)C) of lithium batteries. Furthermore, the performance andoperating life of the lithium batteries decrease rapidly within a hightemperature environment.

Therefore, a unaddressed need for a battery using chlorophyll togenerate electricity exists in the art to address the aforementioneddeficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a battery using chlorophyll to generateelectricity and that can avoid the problems encountered withconventional batteries. The advantages of the present invention will beunderstood more readily after a consideration of the drawings and thedetailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thusare not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a negative-electrode structure accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a manufacturing method of a battery accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a detailed flow chart of the step S1 as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detailed flow chart of the step S2 as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a detailed flow chart of the step S3 as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a detailed flow chart of the step S4 as shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 is a detailed flow chart of the step S5 as shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe an exemplaryembodiment in detail.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery 100 according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the battery 100of the exemplary embodiment includes a current collector 110, apositive-electrode structure 120, a separation structure 130, anegative-electrode structure 140 and a housing 150. Thepositive-electrode structure 120, the separation structure 130, thenegative-electrode structure 140 and the housing 150 are encircledaround the current collector 110 in sequence.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the negative-electrode structure 140 inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 2, the negative-electrode structure 140 of the exemplaryembodiment includes a conductive layer 141 and a negative-electrodelayer 142, and the negative-electrode layer 142 is formed on theconductive layer 141.

The conductive layer 141 is made of conductive material. The conductivematerial can be metal, metallic compound, or conductive polymericmaterial. The metal can be selected from a group consisting of aluminumand gold. The metallic compound can be selected from a group consistingof manganese protoxide, zinc oxide and magnesium oxide. The conductivepolymeric material can be selected from a group consisting ofheterocycle or aromatic heterocyclic compound. Preferably, theconductive polymeric material can be selected from a group consisting ofpolyacetylene, poly (arylene vinylene), polythiophene, polyaniline,polypyrrole and the derivatives thereof.

The negative-electrode layer 142 includes chlorophyll and high polymersolution, and the negative-electrode layer 142 is formed on theconductive layer 141 by a coating method. The chlorophyll is selectedfrom the group consisting of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, chlorophyllc1, chlorophyll c2, chlorophyll d, and chlorophyll e. Typically, thechlorophyll, from which the chlorophyll oxidase are removed, can be inpowder form or in liquid form.

The high polymer solution is adhesive and configured for adhering andadjusting the physical and chemical characteristics of the conductivelayer, such that the negative-electrode layer 142 can properly adhere tothe conductive layer 141. In addition, the electric conductivity of thehigh polymer solution is within a range of 50 ms/cm to 250 ms/cm. Thehigh polymer solution are elements selected from the group consisting ofboron, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, manganese and zinc. The highpolymer solution is further configured for adjusting the work functionof the conductive layer 141, so as to achieve the desired potentialdifference, such as 1.5V, between the positive-electrode structure andthe negative-electrode structure of the battery 100.

The high polymer solution is prepared from compound of metal ions andacid ions, high polymer and solvent in proportion, and each is with aconcentration from 0.1 mol/L to 10 mol/L. The high polymer includes highpolymer of glucose. The high polymer of glucose can be plant starch,such as potato starch, water chestnut starch, corn starch, sweet potatostarch, lotus root starch, mustard powder, and pueraria powder, etc. Thecompound of metal ions and acid ions can be calcium carbonate.Alternatively, the compound of metal ions and acid ions can be naturalphytochemicals, including lignans, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides,flavonoids, iridoids, fatty acids, scopoletin, catechin,beta-sitosterol, damnacanthal, and alkaloids. The solvent can have apolarity and a PH value thereof greater than 3, such as water, seawater,tea, coffee, fruit juice or liquor, etc. The PH value of the highpolymer solution is between about 5.5 to about 8. The high polymersolution can further contain vitamin, such as vitamin D.

The negative-electrode structure 140 is made into a membrane to increasethe usage rate of the chlorophyll and enlarge the contact area thereofso as to increase the response area of the battery. In addition, itshould be understood for a person skilled in the art that, any knownmethod can be used to increase the usage rate of the chlorophyll andenlarge the contact area thereof to increase the response area of thebattery, etc. Preferably, in the exemplary embodiment, the length of thenegative-electrode structure 140 is about 60 mm, and the width thereofis about 50 mm.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, the following will continue to introduceother structures of the battery 100 of the present invention. Thecurrent collector 110 is in a cylinder shape. Preferably, the diameterof the current collector 110 is about 4 mm, and its length is about 47.2mm.

The positive-electrode structure 120 is made of positive-electrodematerial in powder form. Preferably, the positive-electrode material inpowder form contains chlorophyll in powder form. In addition, thepositive-electrode material powder can further contain carbon fibercloth, carbon powder or nano conductive polymeric powder. The carbonfiber cloth or the carbon powder can be selected from the groupconsisting of hard charcoal (or called chaoite), soot carbon, glassycarbon, carbon nanotube, activated carbon, diamond, amorphous carbon,grapheme, fullerene, graphite, carbyne, diatomic carbon, tricarbon,atomic carbon, graphitization carbon, thermolabile carbon, coke, orother allotropes of carbon. The material of the conductive polymericpowder can be selected from the group consisting of heterocycle oraromatic heterocyclic compound. Preferably, the material of theconductive polymeric powder can be selected from the group consisting ofpolyacetylene, poly (arylene vinylene), polythiophene, polyaniline,polypyrrole and the derivatives thereof.

The separation structure 130 has a first separator 131, a secondseparator 132 and electrolyte material 133 sandwiched between the twoseparators. The first separator 131 and the second separator 132 areboth made of high-fiber material, and the high-fiber material can bepaper material, such as cellophane, cotton paper, rice paper or silkpaper, etc. Furthermore, the high-fiber material has pores therein, andthe diametric length of each pore is preferably between about 0.01 μm toabout 1 cm. In addition, in the exemplary embodiment, the firstseparator 131 and the second separator 132 are both membranes, and thelengths of these two memberance are about 55 mm, the their widths areabout 50 mm with their thickness of about 0.2 mm. The electrolytematerial 133 can be a solution of organic salt or a solution of organicsalt and chlorophyll. The electric conductivity of the solution shouldbe between about 10 ms/cm to about 500 ms/cm. The organic salt can beorganic salt without lithium, and selected from the group consisting ofsodium iodide, sodium chloride and sodium hydroxide.

The housing 150 can be a paper tube, with its outer diameter being about14.5 mm, its inner diameter being about 12.5 mm, and its length beingabout 48.4 mm. The housing 150 is configured for containing the currentcollector 110, the positive-electrode structure 120, the separationstructure 130 and the negative-electrode structure 140.

In the exemplary embodiment, both of the negative-electrode structure140 and the positive-electrode structure 120 contains the chlorophyll.Therefore, when the battery 100 operates, the chlorophyll of thenegative-electrode structure 140 and the chlorophyll of thepositive-electrode structure 120 generate electrons or holes as theyreceive light or touch the electrolyte solution, such that a potentialdifference occurs between the positive-electrode structure 120 and thenegative-electrode structure 140 to supply a continuous current. Inother words, the battery 100 of the present invention uses chlorophyllas the energy source to generate electricity. Preferably, thechlorophyll of the negative-electrode structure 140 and the chlorophyllof the positive-electrode structure 120 have different work functionswith each other.

Although both of the negative-electrode structure 140 and thepositive-electrode structure 120 contain chlorophyll in the exemplaryembodiment, it should be understood for a person skilled in the artthat, the battery of the present invention can only use the chlorophyllin the negative-electrode structure 140, or only use the chlorophyll inthe positive-electrode structure 120, to use chlorophyll as the energysource such that the battery can provide the electrical energy.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a manufacturing method for battery accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3,the manufacturing method includes following steps:

-   -   Step S1: providing a high polymer solution;    -   Step S2: providing a negative-electrode structure;    -   Step S3: providing a separation structure;    -   Step S4: assembling the negative-electrode structure and the        separation structure into a housing; and    -   Step S5: inserting a current collector into the housing and        filling a positive-electrode material therein to form a        positive-electrode structure.

FIG. 4 is a detailed flow chart of the step S1 as shown in FIG. 3. Asshown in FIG. 4, the step S1 of providing a high polymer solutionincludes following steps:

-   -   Step S11: slowly adding high polymer powder into solvent with a        temperature of 40 Degree Celsius to form a first mixture;    -   Step S12: blending the first mixture with a magnet blender at a        rate of 500˜700 RPM;    -   Step S13: detecting whether the electric conductivity of the        first mixture is within a range of 50 ms/cm to 250 ms/cm or not;        if a result thereof is no, returning to perform the step S11;        and if the result thereof is yes, performing a step S14; and    -   Step S14: completing.

In the exemplary embodiment, the solvent can have a polarity and a PHvalue greater than 3, such as water, seawater, tea, coffee, fruit juiceor liquor, etc.

FIG. 5 is a detailed flow chart of the step S2 as shown in FIG. 3. InFIG. 5, the step S2 of providing a negative-electrode structure includesfollowing steps:

-   -   Step S21: filtering the chlorophyll in powder form by a filter        mesh;    -   Step S22: pouring the chlorophyll into the high polymer solution        to form a second mixture;    -   Step S23: blending the second mixture with a magnet blender at a        rate of 500˜700 RPM;    -   Step S24: judging whether uniform fluid is achieved or not; if        the answer is no, returning to perform the step S22; and if the        answe is yes, performing the step S25;    -   Step S25: coating the uniform fluid on a conductive layer;    -   Step S26: placing the conductive layer into an oven and baking        it at a temperature of 100 Degree Celsius, until water        evaporates.

FIG. 6 is a detailed flow chart of the step S3 as shown in FIG. 3. InFIG. 6, the step of providing a separation structure includes followingsteps:

-   -   Step S31: trimming the separators;    -   Step S32: immersing the trimmed separators into a high polymer        solution;    -   Step S33: two separators are made by taking out two separators        and placing them into an oven and baking them at a temperature        of 100 Degree Celsius until water evaporates;    -   Step S34: taking out the first of the two separators, and        uniformly spraying electrolyte material thereon; and    -   Step S35: covering the second of the two separators on the        electrolyte material, to complete the whole processes of        manufacturing the separation structure.

FIG. 7 is a detailed flow chart of the step S4 as shown in FIG. 3. InFIG. 7, the step S4 of assembling the negative-electrode structure andthe separation structure into the housing, includes following steps:

-   -   Step S41: attaching the negative-electrode structure into the        housing;    -   Step S42: closely rolling up the separation structure by a first        hollow rod having an inner diameter of 4.5 mm, an outer diameter        of 6.36 mm, and a length of 47.2 mm;    -   Step S43: turning the first hollow rod with the rolled        separation structure into the housing with the        negative-electrode structure in clockwise direction;    -   Step S44: taking out the first hollow rod in counterclockwise        direction to leave the separation structure in the housing, with        the negative-electrode structure;    -   Step S45: detecting whether the separation structure is attached        on the negative-electrode structure in the housing; if the        answer is no, performing the step S46; and if the answer is yes,        performing the step S47;    -   Step S46: pulling out the separation structure and judging        whether the separation structure is damaged; if the answer is        no, returning to perform the step S42; and if the answer is yes,        performing the step S46 a;    -   Step S46 a: replacing the separation structure and returning to        perform the step S42; and    -   Step S47: completing.

FIG. 8 is a detailed flow chart of the step S5 as shown in FIG. 3. InFIG. 8, the step S5 of inserting the current collector into the housingand filling the positive-electrode material therein to form thepositive-electrode structure includes following steps:

-   -   Step S51: slowly filling the positive-electrode material in        powder form into the housing with the negative-electrode        structure and the separation structure;    -   Step S52: inserting the current collector into the center of the        housing;    -   Step S53: tamping by the first hollow rod and a vise and        continuously filling the positive-electrode material therein;    -   Step S54: detecting whether the amount of the positive-electrode        material reaches a needed weight; if the answer is no, returning        to perform the step S53; and if the answer is yes, performing        the step S55; and    -   Step S55: embellishing the positive-electrode structure by a        second hollow rod having an inner diameter of 4.5 mm, an outer        diameter of 9.94 mm, and a length of 47.2 to form the        positive-electrode structure.

The battery of the present invention could store hydrogen by chlorophyllof the positive-electrode structure and/or the negative-electrodestructure to generate electricity. Preferably, both of thepositive-electrode structure and the negative-electrode structurecontain chlorophyll, but they have different work-functions. Namely,during the oxidation-reduction chemical reaction, the chlorophyllmolecule would lose a magnesium ion in its porphyrin center to becomethe pheophytin molecule. Two empty bonding sites of the latter then traptwo hydrogen ions to practically store hydrogen and make the running ofcurrent smooth. In addition, not only is the manufacturing process ofthe battery simple and economical, but also natural, non-toxicsubstances are used. Unlike conventional batteries, the battery of thepresent invention will not cause environmental pollution even whendiscarding after use.

It should be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, “third” and otherterms in the present invention are only used as textual symbols as thecircumstances can require, and thus the practice is not limited to theseterms. It should be further noted that these terms can be usedinterchangeably.

While there has been shown several and alternate embodiments of thepresent invention, it is to be understood that certain changes can bemade as would be known to one skilled in the art without departing fromthe underlying scope of the present invention as is discussed and setforth above and below including claims. Furthermore, the embodimentsdescribed above and claims set forth below are only intended toillustrate the principles of the present invention and are not intendedto limit the scope of the present invention to the disclosed elements.

1. A battery, comprising: a. a current collector; b. a positive-electrode structure, substantially encircling the current collector; c. a separation structure, substantially encircling the positive-electrode structure; d. a negative-electrode structure, substantially encircling the separation structure; and e. a housing enclosing the current collector, the positive-electrode structure, the separation structure and the negative-electrode structure, wherein at least one of the positive-electrode structure and the negative-electrode structure comprises chlorophyll.
 2. The battery of claim 1, wherein the negative-electrode structure comprises a conductive layer and a negative-electrode layer, and the negative-electrode layer is formed on the conductive layer.
 3. The battery of claim 2, wherein the conductive layer is made of conductive material, and the conductive material is selected from the group consisting of metal, metallic compound and conductive polymeric material.
 4. The battery of claim 3, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum and gold, the metallic compound is selected from the group consisting of manganese protoxide, zinc oxide and magnesium oxide, and the conductive polymeric material is heterocycle or aromatic heterocyclic compound and selected from the group consisting of polyacetylene, poly (arylene vinylene), polythiophene, polyaniline, polypyrrole and their derivatives.
 5. The battery of claim 2, wherein the negative-electrode layer comprises chlorophyll and a high polymer solution.
 6. The battery of claim 5, wherein the chlorophyll is selected from the group consisting of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b. chlorophyll c1, chlorophyll c2, chlorophyll d, and chlorophyll e.
 7. The battery of claim 5, wherein the chlorophyll is in powder form or in liquid form.
 8. The battery of claim 5, wherein the chlorophyll oxidase has been removed from the chlorophyll.
 9. The battery of claim 5, wherein the high polymer solution comprises compound of metal ions and acid ions, high polymer and solvent, and each thereof has a concentration of about 0.1 mol/L to about 10 mol/L.
 10. The battery of claim 9, wherein the high polymer is high polymer of glucose, and the high polymer of glucose is selected from the group consisting of potato starch, water chestnut starch, corn starch, sweet potato starch, lotus root starch, mustard powder and pueraria powder.
 11. The battery of claim 9, wherein the compound of metal ions and acid ions comprise calcium carbonate or natural phytochemicals selected from the group consisting of lignans, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, flavonoids, iridoids, fatty acids, scopoletin, catechin, beta-sitosterol, damnacanthal and alkaloids.
 12. The battery of claim 9, wherein the solvent has a polarity and a PH value greater than 3, and the solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, seawater, tea, coffee, fruit juice and liquor.
 13. The battery of claim 5, wherein the PH value of the high polymer solution is within a range of about 5.5 to about 8, and its electric conductivity is within a range of about 50 ms/cm to about 250 ms/cm.
 14. The battery of claim 1, wherein the positive-electrode structure is made of positive-electrode material in powder form.
 15. The battery of claim 14, wherein the positive-electrode material in powder form comprises the chlorophyll in powder form.
 16. The battery of claim 15, wherein the positive-electrode material in powder form further comprises at least one of carbon fiber cloth, carbon powder and conductive polymeric powder, and the carbon fiber cloth and the carbon powder are selected from the group consisting of hard charcoal (or called chaoite), soot carbon, glassy carbon, carbon nanotube, activated carbon, diamond, amorphous carbon, graphene, fullerene, graphite, carbyne, diatomic carbon, tricarbon, atomic carbon, graphitization carbon, Pyrolytic carbon, coke, and other allotropes of carbon.
 17. The battery of claim 1, wherein the separation structure comprises a first separator, a second separator and electrolyte material sandwiched therebetween.
 18. The battery of claim 17, wherein the first separator and the second separator are made of high-fiber material, and the high-fiber material is paper material selected from the group consisting of cellophane, cotton paper, rice paper and silk paper.
 19. The battery of claim 17, wherein the electrolyte material comprises a solution of organic salt or a solution of organic salt and chlorophyll, and its electric conductivity is within a range of about 10 ms/cm to about 500 ms/cm.
 20. The battery of claim 18, wherein the organic salt is organic salt without lithium, and the organic salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium iodide, sodium chloride and sodium hydroxide. 